Our office handles a variety of employment claims. In California, most employment is presumed to be "at-will", meaning the employee can be terminated without cause, as long as it is not based upon an illegal reason.

All employees are entitled to certain rights under state and federal law. California's Fair Employment & Housing Act, or FEHA, is the main California statute prohibiting employment discrimination by employers, labor organizations, and any person or entity who aids, abets, incites, compels, or coerces the doing of a discriminatory act.

FEHA guarantees employees the right to work in an environment free of harassment or discrimination based on:

• Race
• Gender
• Sexual Orientation
• Age
• Physical Disability
• Mental Disability
• Medical Condition
• Pregnancy
• National Origin
• Whistleblowing (reporting or threatening to report illegal practices of your employer)
• Requesting or taking medical leave
• Sustaining or reporting an on the job injury

As an employee, you have the right to report instances of discrimination or harassment to your employer, and have those complaints investigated fully and fairly, without fear of retaliation. Unfortunately, many employers do not properly investigate the claim, do not investigate the claim at all, or terminate the employee for making the claim. Any such conduct violates California law, and any employee who is the victim of such conduct is entitled to bring a claim before the Department of Fair Employment & Housing, and/or file a civil complaint for damages.

An employee claiming a disability is entitled to report the disability to the employer without fear of termination or other retaliation. The employer is required to investigate and make an attempt to reasonably accommodate the disability.

Employers cannot terminate or refuse to hire employees who have physical or mental disabilities, unless the employee, because of his or her physical or mental disability, is unable to perform his or her essential duties even with reasonable accommodations, or cannot perform those duties in a manner that would not endanger his or her health or safety or the health or safety of others even with reasonable accommodations.

Our office has also successfully litigated matters involving unpaid wages, overtime claims, and sexual harassment. Employees who attempt to prove illegal practices are at a tremendous disadvantage. Some employers have unlimited resources and will stop at nothing to avoid paying. Employers may also give false reasons or attempt to exaggerate alleged employee transgressions to justify illegal conduct. However, our firm has the knowledge, the experience, and the will to fight for you. If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, or unfair wage practices, please call our office for a free consultation.